Automobile hood latch



May 7, 1940. w. s. SAUNDERS AUTOMOBILE HOOD LATCH Filed April 29, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR WALTER S. UNDERS May 7, 1940. w. s. SAUNDERS AUTOMOBILE ao'on LATCH Filed April 29, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.9.

May 7, 1940- w. s. SAUNDERS AUTOMOBILE HOOD LATCH Filed 'April 29, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WALTER S.SAUNDER$ JLULJ- ATTO Patented May 7, 1940 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE noon LATCH Walter S. Saunders, Pontiac, Michs assi nor to The American Forging and Socket Company, Pontiac, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 29, 1937, Serial No. 139,778

I 11 Claims.

vide hood latching means of the character indicated, releasable from within the passenger compartment of the vehicle and so constructed that although the initial unlocking may be effected 10 only by means of the remote controlled operating means, as, for example, from within the passenger compartment, complete freeing of the hood can be effected only by direct manual actuation of a safety catch located at the latch itself, such safety catch being operable only after initial unlocking by the remote operating means. By virtue of this construction, no accidental operation of the remote controlled unlocking mechanism while the vehicle is in motion can cause.

A complete freeing of the hood, which would entail the danger thatthe latter might be caught by the wind, with l the possibility of considerable resultant damage.

Another object is to provide such securing 1 means for an engine hood ,or the like, incorporating a double latch so constructed that initial release thereof may be effected only from a remote point, while complete release may be effected only from another point and after initial release.

A further object is to provide such a construction which is of very simple and inexpensive nature, which provides secure holding in such manner as to prevent the possibility of noise or rattling of the parts when latched.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention and,

40 wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the front portion of a motor vehicle having a 45 hood equipped with latching means constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged and somewhat diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of the portions 50 of the vehicle supporting the latching mechanism, the latching mechanism and its operating means being shown in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the latching mechanism in closed position, with the hood lid removed.

means of linkage mechanism having lost motion Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the latching mechanism. a 1 2 Figure 5 is a composite perspective view of the principal operating elements of the latching mechanism, separated from each other but sub- 5 stantially in their operative relation.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing a somewhat modified construction, with the lid portion of the hood in tightly closed and locked position.

Figure 7 is a. similar view showing the lid unlocked but not fully released.

Figure 8 is a plan'view of such modified construction, similar to Figure 3. v

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the principal parts of the latching mechanism.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 2 of another somewhat modifled construction.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the safety catch, mechanism, with the hood removed, similar to Figure 3.

Figure 12 is a rear elevational view thereof, similar to Figure 4, and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the latching and keeper elements.

Referring now to the drawings, reference character l5 designates generally the body of a motor vehicle, which is shown provided with a front mounted engine I! enclosed in a hood defined by side panels l9, while the front portion of the supporting framework is designated 21, The lid portion 20 is hinged at its rear end toflthe cowl portion of the vehicle, as by hinge bars 22, my improved latching means. being carried partly, I by the front end of the lid, projecting downwardly 3 from the inside thereof, and partly upon the front frame member 2|.

Carried by the inside of the lid is a keeper element 25 secured to a bracket 26, the keeper eleinent being in the form of a double, bent sheet metal strip constituting a downwardly and rearwardly projecting hook, to and from overengaging relation with which a holding or bolt member formed of a strip of sheet metal bent to the shape of an inverted U is swingable. The legs of the u-shaped bolt member are pivotally atta'ched to a combined latch casing and bracket member 28, secured to the frame portion 2i. Such swingable bolt portion is designated 30, and as best shown in Figure 2, is operable by connection therewith, the lost motion being provided by a slot 32 in which a drag link 33 formed of heavy wire. or the like engages/ At its other end the linlgis articulated to a bellcrank 34 operable by a reach rod 35 which projects into the passenger compartment, indicated as separated from the hood-defined engine compartment by a dash panel 31. A torsion spring 38 wrapped about the pivot pin upon which the U-shaped bolt member is supported urges such bolt toward the latched position, while a spring 39 also tends to return the operating linkage to the latched position.

Another bolt member 59, also in the form of an inverted U-shaped sheet metal strip, is independently pivoted upon the same pivot pin 42 which supports the bolt member 30, such bolt member 60, having longer legs, forming a safety catch which limits upward movement of the keeper, and so of the lid, when the bolt 30 is retracted. .A tension spring Q5 tends to hold the safety catch member dB in such blocking position in which it restrains upward movement of the lid beyond the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, such spring being fastened at one end to the bracket 28, and at the other end hooked in an ear, 4!, projecting laterally from one of the legs of the safety bolt and serving also as a finger piece by which the bolt member. may be manually actuated by a person who, desiring to free the lid in order that it may be fully raised (after bolt 30 has been released to allow the lid to rise to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2), reaches into the opening then present between the lid and fixed portions of the hood, and pushes back upon the bolt 40.

Initial upward movement of the lid to the position in which it is caught by boltiill is effected by a leaf spring 45 also carried by bracket 28 and which is stressed by the keeper 25 when the lid is closed.

In the modified construction shown in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive, in which parts equivalent to those previously disclosed have been given like reference characters, distinguished by the addition of the letter A to each, the lid portion 29A also carries a keeper 25A in the form of a rearwardly projecting hood engageable with a swinging latch bolt 30A carried upon a bracket 28A secured to the frame portion 21A. The bolt member is also formed of sheet metal, generally in the form of a channel, having downwardly extending legs pivoted to a pin 42A carried by bracket 28A. The top of the bolt and bottom of the keeper are curved or inclined in opposite directions, so that the keeper in descending forces the bolt to the rear, whereafter the bolt may move forward to: overengage the hooked end of the keeper and so hold it and the lid in place, as in the previous embodiment. The bolt member is provided with two stop portions, the lowermost of which, designated MA, is that normally engaged by the hooked keeper when the lid is tightly closed, while the upper catch portion, designated WA, constitutes a safety catch with which the keeper engages after the lower holding portion 3|A frees it. The

spring 55A tends to raise the lid immediately upon retraction of the bolt member, and another spring, designated 38A, yieldably holds the bolt in the latched position. The bolt is shown as operable by means of a link 33A having. lost motion connection therewith and operable by means of a Bowden wire BiiA extending to a convenient position in the passenger compartment, a swinging plate 3 1A providing connection between the link and wire.

The modification shown in Figures 10 to 13 inclusive comprises a separate safety catch member, designated 59B, mounted entirely independently of the main latch member. The bolt and keeper portions of the main latch member (remotely operable), are designated 3BB-25B respectively, and the details of construction of such portions are subject to variation, as will readily be apparent, although, the preferred embodiment shown conforms to the disclosure of my copending application Serial No. 139,779, filed April 29, 1937, the lever 30B being operable from a remote point, as within the passenger compartment, to free the hook 25B. When bolt portion 303 is retracted, complete release of the lid 20B is prevented by safety catch mechanism which only allows it to rise to the dotted line position shown in Figure 10, in which a hook-shaped safety catch member 40B engages beneath the frame portion 213 to limit the upward movement of the lid. The safety catch member is pivotally supported upon a bracket 283 which, together with the hook, is adapted to project through an opening 22B in the frame ZIB. An upwardly projecting continuation of the hooked safety catch member extends above its pivot pin 42B and constitutes a finger piece by which the hook may be released to completely free the lid, torsion spring 443 yieldably holding the catch member in operative position.

What I claim is: l

1. In combination with an enclosure having a closure member movable to open and close the same, and holding means for releasably holding said closure in a closed position, supplementary holding means within the space enclosed by the enclosure and closure member when the latter is closed, limiting to a predetermined extent the opening movement of said closure member when said first mentioned holding means is released, said supplementary holding means having an element accessible for operation only when said closure member is opened to the limited extent permitted by said supplementary holding means and movable to release such holding means and allow wider opening of the closure member.

2. In combination with an enclosure defining a compartment, a closure movable to open and close said compartment, and latching means for holding the closure in closed position, additional holding means for limiting opening movement of the closure to a predetermined extent upon release of said first mentioned latching means, including a portion within the compartment releasable only by reaching thereinto through the partially opened closure to free the latter for further opening movement.

3. In combination with an enclosure defining a compartment, a closure movable to open and close said compartment, and latching means for holding the closure in closed position, additional holding means for limiting to a predetermined degree the opening movement of the closure upon release of said first mentioned latching means. operating means accessible from outside the compartment for releasing said latching means, said additional holding means comprising a portion releasable from outside the compartment only when said latching means is released and after such partial opening of the closure member.

4. Means as set forth in claim 1 in which said first mentioned and supplementary holding means comprise a common keeper element and a pair of independently operable bolt elements having keeper-engaging portions arranged at different points in the path of movement of the closure, whereby when said first mentioned bolt element is released the bolt element of the supplementary holding means is engageable with the keeper element and is releasable therefrom only by separate actuation.

5. Means as set forth in claim 1 in which said first mentioned and supplementary holding means comprise a common keeper element carried by the closure member and movable therewith toward and from the compartment, and a pair of separately operable bolt elements carried by the enclosure and having keeper-engaging portions spaced from each other in the path of movement of the keeper during movement of the closure, the bolt element of the first mentioned holding means being engageable with said keeper when the closure is fully closed, and the bolt element of said supplementary holding means being engageable with the keeper to restrain further opening movement of the closure when the latter is released by the first mentioned holding means and is partly opened.

6. Means as set forth in claim 3, said latching means and additional holding means comprising into securing position, said lever being adapted,

when in securing position, to permit a predetermined limited upward movement of the hood, and a manual handle, unitary with said lever, located adjacent but within the edge of the hood, and inaccessible to the operator when the hood is closed, but accessible when the hood is partly open.

8. In a safety catch for automobile hoods, a latch lever rotatably mounted on and within the hood, spring means adapted to rotate said leverinto securing position, and a manual handle, unitary with said lever, located adjacent but within the edge of the hood, and inaccessible to the operator when the hood is closed, but accessible when the hood is partly open.

9. In a hood latching arrangement wherein an eneasing portion of the hood is adapted to be normally latched in closed position by a primary latch mechanism and means may be provided for normally urging the hood to partially open condition in opposition to said primary latch mechanism, a safety catch comprising a movable element normally unengaged when the hood is completely closed and latched by the primary latch mechanism and normally inaccessible from the exterior and adapted to become operative to hold the hood in partially open condition when the primary latch mechanism is released and the hood urged to open condition, said catch including an operating portion which becomes exposed for manipulation from the exterior when the hood is in its partially open condition.

10. In association with a pivoted hood section adapted to be secured in closed position by a primary latch mechanism, a secondary safety catch comprising an interiorly mounted element normally inaccessible from the exterior when the hood is closed and adapted to become operative to retain the hood in partially open position upon release of the primary latch mechanism, and including a catch portion and a manipulating part which, when exposed, may be operated from the exterior through the partial opening created upon release of the primary latch mechanism and the efiective latching of the secondary catch.

11. In a hood latching arrangement wherein an encasing portion of, the hood is adapted to be normally latched in closed position by a primary latch mechanism and means may be provided for normally urging the hood to partially open condition in opposition to said primary latch mechanism, a safety catch comprising a movable hook normally unengaged when the hood is completely closed and latched by the primary latch mechanism and normally inaccessible from the exterior and adapted to become operative to hold the hood in partially open condition when the primary latch mechanism is released and the hood urged to open condition, said catch including an op erating handle which becomes exposed for manipulation from the exterior. when the hood is in its partially open condition, said handle being located closely adjacent the forward edge of the hood.

WALTER S. SAUNDERS. 

